Improvement in hinging coffin-lids



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JACOB C. SEELYE, OF CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS.

IMPROVEMENT IN HINGING COFFIN-LIDS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 48,842, dated July 18, 1865.

To all 'whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JACOB C. SEELYE, of Cambridge, in the county of Middlesex and State of Massachusetts, have invented an Im-A .is effected that is accomplished by the invention of J. S. Merrill, patented May 26, 1863, but it is attained in a simpler and cheaper manner.

It is desirable'to tix upon the outside ofthe main part of the lid of a coffin the inscriptionplate, near to the cross-joint thereof, in such manner as to be read by a person standing by the side of the coffin and looking toward the head thereof; but from the manner in which the head part ofthe lidis commonly hinged to the body part a plate so affixed would be covered by the hinged part when it is thrown back so as to disclose the features of the deceased, and for this reason the inscription-plate has' been usually fixed to that surface of the lid which comes inside'when the cofn is closed, so that the plate is only seen when the head part of the lid is thrown back or is opened. For purposes of identiiicatiou it is desirable that the plate should be outside ot' the coflin when closed, while it is also desirable to have the inscription in such a location as to be easily read while viewing the features of a deceased person. To obtain this result said Merrill makes the top piece or cover of the coiin adjacent to the lid with a tongue or projection upon which the inscription-plate is secured, and provides the adjacent edge of the lid with a recess into which this tongue tits, the joints or pivots of the hinges being on the line of the joint between the lid and the main cover. In turning` back the lid this projection extends beyond the joint over the open space andisin itself unsightly, though it exposes to view the inscription-plate. Moreover, the irregular joint between the lid and main cover is expensive to make, as will be readily understood. I accomplish the same desirable result obtained by the Merrill construction, without this irregular and objectionable joint, by simply making the lid in the common form or with a straight joint, and so applying the hinges to it and the main cover that the joints or pivots of the hinges are in rear of the joint between the cover and lid at such distance as shall swing the lid. back ofthe inscription-plate whenever it is turned back, as will be readily understood from the drawings.

Figure 1 is a section of a coffin-lid taken on the line z z of Fig. 2, which is aplan of the lid as it appears when fully closed upon the coffin. Fig. 3 is a plan of the lid with the head part thrown back, as shown in red lines in Fig. 1.

By inspection of Figs. 2 and 3 it will clearly appear that the inscription-plate a is exposed to view, whether the head part of the lid is closed oris thrown back. The hinges are made with a considerable elongation of their swinging parts c, so that there will be length enough of arm or lever beyond the pivot d of the hinge to carry the lid b over the plate a, and so that the edge e of thelid b shall leave the plate a entirely uncovered when opened or thrown back, as seen in Fig. 3.

The form of the hinges may be varied, but my invention will remain so long as there is length enough of arm to the hinges between the edge e and the hinge-pivots d to swing the lid b back clear of the plate. No peculiar'and difficult joint in the coffin-lid is required by this arrangement to effect the desired result, which, it will be seen, is accomplished in a very simple and in artificial manner.

I claim- Hanginga cofiinhd by hinges the pivots of which are placed in rear of the whole joint between the lid and main cover, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 15th day of February, A. D. 1865.

JACOB C. SEELYE.

In presence of- J B. CROSBY, W. B. GLEAsoN. 

